Virgin and Google sitting in a spaceship

The search engine mothra has entered a partnership with Virgin Galactic, and become shareholders to the tune of £17.8 million.

The agreement with Branson's possible folly, will apparently secure a 1.5% stake in the company for Google, with the venture worth £1.2 billion in total.

It's thought that Google were up for the idea after a heavy drinking session, believing that it could help boost internet connectivity around the world, with Virgin Galactic spacecrafts carting the search engine firm's internet-broadcasting satellites into suborbital space.

Virgin Galactic reckons it will be able to offer suborbital spaceflights to space tourists by the end of the year, and has long-term plans in place to provide orbital human spaceflights as well.

Let's have a look at a test flight:

Naturally, as cameras will no doubt be on hand, Branson has confirmed that he will be on board the first commercial Virgin Galactic flight with his two adult children.